Other ABC News Sites

86-year-old Eric Hurn named environmental hero

Retired Crookwell lamb and potato farmer Eric Hurn has been recognised for his land conservation work at the 2013 NSW Landcare Awards. He was awarded Individual Landcarer of the Year.

Kim Honan

A retired fat lamb and potato farmer from Crookwell in NSW has been named the best landcarer in the state.

86-year-old Eric Hurn has been planting trees for nearly 50 years, and has no plans to slow down.

He estimates that over that period he's probably planted some 40,000 - 50,000 trees.

"I've been blessed with good health and to be able to give support, and I can still plant trees and it will be a real pleasure to continue with the various groups around," he said.

He's also spent decades subdividing his paddocks, improving the pastures and protecting wetlands on his properties.

"It was very necessary on the country I had, and so I set about it probably when I couldn't afford it, a lot of it, but it was worthwhile," he said.

He co-founded the Roslyn Landcare Group on the Southern Tablelands in NSW.

"We have been active in Roslyn for about 15 - 18 years as an active Landcare group and the whole area has shown real improvement," he said.

He says bird species have come back, and there are even water amphibians in areas they haven't seen before.

"Platypus, water rats; it really means the work we're doing is improving the water, really clear pristine waters now and hopefully it'll stay that way," he said.

Eric's dedication to conserving the land and environment was recognised at the 2013 NSW Landcare Awards in Newcastle, but he says it's not about winning awards.

"I just do it, I don't care about accolades or anything," he said.

"You just get in there and do what you believe is right for the environment, we want a better environment that's the whole thing.

"It gives you a wonderful feeling of having done something really worthwhile."

Eric says it's a real joy to work with young people.

"To see the expressions of them doing something that they know we approve of, and they love to listen to talks we give them on birds, and all that that's help the environment to be a better place," he said.

"They listen so intently and when it gets to planting the trees, they just do so well."